THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


MEADOW-LA  RK 
AND    OTHER    POEMS 


BY 
JENNIE    KIEFER 


PUBLISHED    BY 

The    Parsifal     Press 

LOS      ANGELES 


DEDICATED      TO 
ALL      FRIENDS     OF      THE 

M  E  A  DOW-LA  RK 


610467 

LIBRARY 


CONTENTS 

A  DAY  IN  JUNE  26 

BLUE  DRAGON— OCEAN  20 

DRIFT— WOOD  1 7 

LESSONS  27 

LOVE  33 

LUNA  3 

MEADOW— LARK  1 

MR.  SUNSHINE  15 

MY  RELIGION  31 

OUR  BOBBIE  10 

PASSING  29 

SILVER  BELLS  1 6 

TEAL  24 

THE  ARCHER  5 

THE  CHAUFFEUR  1 3 
THE  FLAG  ON  THE  COURTHOUSE  1 4 

THE  FORTRESS  CASTLE  2 

THE  LINNETS  25 
THE  MISSION  OF  THE  OREGON     6 

T.  R.  12 


MEADOW-LARK! 

Meadow-lark,   in  beauty  dressed  — 
Wood-brown  coat  and  primrose  vest, 

Loving  meadows  wide  and  sweet, 
Where  no  arching  branches  meet, 

Naught  to  check  thine  upward  gaze, 
Through  the  long,  bright  summer  days. 

Is  it  world-old  pain  that  wells, 
In  thy  heart  'neath  asphodels? 

Did  thy  love  from  English  lane, 
Soar  to  heaven  on  liquid  strain? 

Seeks  thy  heart  in  song  relief 
Lest  the  meadows  know  thy  grief? 

Would'st  thou  lure,  by  that  sweet  note, 
Sky-lark  love  from  clouds  remote?- 

Ease  thy  heart  with  that  refrain, 
Flute-like:     "She  will  come  again!" 


THE  FORTRESS-CASTLE 

Its  peaceful  grandeur,  age  on  age, 
The  ruined  castle  shows; 

Nor  warder's  call,  nor  arrow's  flight 
Assails  its  deep  repose. 

The  rooks  that  circle  wide  at  dawn 
Home  trend  with  waning  light, 

And  broken  tower  and  donjon  keep 
Are  hearthstone  loved  at  night. 

The  ivy  presses  heart  to  heart 

The  walls  that  knighthood  reared, 

And  clasps  in  loving,  arms  each  stone 
That  valorous  souls  endeared. 

And  age  on  age,  like  rooks  that  throng, 
Trend  knightly  hearts  in  quest 

Of  shrines,  where  glorious  valour  dwelt, 
And  love  that  valour  blessed. 


LUNA 

From  wondrous  temple  of  the  Sun, 

The  Earth  with  Luna  fled; 
Through  darkest  night,  o'er  ether  plains 
'    The  radiant  wanderers  sped. 

Nine  times  ten-million  miles  were  told, 
Since  loud  the  temple  rang, 

And  brazen  gates  were  outward  flung 
Then  shut  with  thunderous  clang. 

Still  with  the  joy  of  ways  untried, 
And  youth,  and  hearts  of  fire, 

The  wanderers,  self-illumed  and  free, 
Nor  time  nor  space  could  tire. 

But  distance  dimmed  the  altar-glow  — 
All  noble  souls  are  true  — 

And  now  the  wanderers'  faltering  hearts 
The  exile's  anguish  knew. 

When  strong  wills  yield,  the  hour 

has  struck 
For  Primal  Power  to  guide; 

3 


And  being,  led  by  unseen  hand, 
Finds  naught  of  worth  denied. 

Four  times  ten-million  years  are  told, 
Still  Earth  with  Luna  sweet 

O'er  primrose  pathway  through  the  skies, 
The  vows  of  youth  repeat. 

The  ardent  Earth,  Time's  record  keeps 
In  beauteous  Seasons'  flight; 

And  Luna's  face,  in  lilied  grace, 
Reflects  the  altar-light. 


THE  ARCHER 

The  Archer  bent  his  strongest  bow 
And  deftly  launched  his  keenest  dart, 
The  shining  barb  with  keen  intent 
Plunged  deep  into  a  steel-chilled  heart 

The  cleavage  of  that  chilled-steel  heart 
No  art  nor  dart  before  had  found, 
Small  wonder,  then,  that  panic  spread 
Through  inky  pages,  vellum  bound,— 

That  Blackstone  tumbled  from  his  shelf, 

And  dust-grimed  tomes  were  thun 
dering  hurled, 

That  chaos  reigned  and  ruin  spread; 

Such  cause,  ere  this,  had  wrecked 
a  world. 


The  carnage,  pillage,  conflict  o'er, 
Aloft  enthroned  sat  Cupid's  self; 
While  Attic  sage,  in  happiest  mood, 
Kicked  Law  and  Blackstone  'neath 
the  shelf. 


THE  MISSION  OF  THE  OREGON 

(One  of  the  finest  armored  cruisers  of  the  United  States  navy  is  to 
make  the  run  from  San  Francisco  around  the  Horn  to  the  Atlantic 
fleet.  But  the  trip  will  not  arouse  the  world  like  the  journey  of  the 
Oregon  during  the  Spanish-American  war,  with  Captain  Clark 
on  the  bridge.  That  was  an  epoch-making  journey. 

— Los  Angeles  Times,  August  2 3,  1910.) 

White  heat,  and  hammer's  smothering 
blows, 

Their  Titan  wills  have  sped, 
And  steel  with  steel,  in  giant  strength, 

The  lightning-bolts  have  wed. 

And  now  in  San  Francisco's  Bay 

An  armored  cruiser  rides, 
Who  waits  impatient  for  the  bells 

That  chant  for  swelling  tides. 

Long  vigils  o'er,  Valkyrie-like 
With  youthful  heart  elate, 

The  Oregon  -  her  vows  to  keep  - 
Clears  wide  the  Golden  Gate! 

Far  out !  sealed  orders  bid  the  stress, 
No  power  that  helps  nor  bars; 


Alone  on  ocean's  shoreless  waste, 
No  convoy  but  the  stars. 

A  nation's  message !  Noble  ship, 
Guard  well  the  written  scroll, 

Ten  thousand  miles  of  stubborn  seas 
Between  thee  and  thy  goal. 

Sea-mountains  rise,  her  course  to  stay, 
Then  swing  and  lash  and  wrack, 

To  wreathe  their  garlands,  sea-foam  white, 
And  fling  them  round  her  track. 

Soft  Juring  airs  from  Tropic  Isles 

With  siren  sweets  are  sent 
O'erwhelming  all  the  sense  and  soul, 

Like  spice  with  attar  blent. 

Then  gales  sweep  on  in  fearful  might, 
The  heavens  and  waters  reel, 

And  stricken  seas  and  stricken  hearts 
The  Powers  of  Darkness  feel. 

Now  well  for  thee,  O  valiant  ship, 
By  wave  and  tempest  tried, 

7 


Thy  builder  spurned  the  rotten  steel 
As  thou  the  seething  tide. 

No  broken  screws  nor  sluing  bolts, 
To  make  thy  timbers  start; 

Each  gliding  shaft  with  joy  obeys 
Thine  engine's  throbbing  heart. 

In  southern  seas  where  ice-fleets  launch, 
Beneath  the  Southern  Cross, 

An  omen  from  the  skies  descends: 
The  white-winged  albatross. 

Magellan's  tortuous  Strait  is  won, 
Again  the  wide  seas  bound, 

Again  the  midnight  watcher  lone 

The  North-star's  light  has  found. 

Now  foes  may  lurk,  a  hostile  fleet 
In  sheltering  waters  bides, 

And  warily  her  armored  breast 
The  leaden  seas  divides. 

The  goal  is  reached  where  Moro's  rock 
Defiant  greets  the  main 


And  alien  hands  rule  alien  hearts 
Beneath  the  flag  of  Spain. 

In  sulphurous  smoke  the  message  speeds, 
Writ  large,  the  world  to  tell, 

The  light  that  makes  the  meaning  plain 
Is  burning  Christobel! 


Her  mission  o'er,  the  Oregon, 
All  samite-robed,  elate, 

Turns  westward  to  beloved  shores, 
And  far-off  Golden  Gate ! 


OUR  BOBBIE 

(.The  author  prizes  greatly  the  following  charming  note  of  ac 
knowledgement  from  Admiral  Robley  D.  Evans: — 
"Dear  Mrs.  Kiefer,-  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the  very  grace 
ful  and  beautiful  lines  you  were  good  enough  to  send  me. 

"Sincerely  yours, 

"R.  D.Evans.") 

U.  S.  Esquire  one  mornin'  — 

Havin'  grown  so  big  and  grand 

That  by  lookin'  twice  or  three  times 
Couldn't  see  across  his  land  - 

Said  to  Mr.  Bob,  his  boatman: 

"Jes*  sail  around  and  see 
If  my  farms,  plantations,  ranches, 

Are  as  safe  as  safe  can  be, 

"For  I  don't  want  any  crowdin,' 
Any  poachin'  on  my  land, 

By  neighbors  'cross  the  ocean, 
Mr.  Bob,  you  understand!" 

And  Mr.  Bob,  he  sabe'd, 

Like  one  Dewey  that  he  knew, 

And  bucklin'  up  some  war-ships, 

10 


Went  a  sailin'  of  the  blue. 

Our  Bobbie  sailed,  and  sailin' 

Dropped  his  anchor  at  the  door 

Of  many  a  friendly  neighbor, 

That  had  greeted  him  before. 

Oh !  the  fleet  was  all  so  gallant, 

And  the  scene  was  all  so  new, 

That  Magellan's  Strait  jes'  widened, 
Fur  to  let  the  gunners  through. 

Our  Bobbie  shot  at  targets 

Till  the  skies  were  reekin'  black, 
And  the  neighbors  -  'cross  the  ocean  — 

Smilin'  -  took  another  —  tack ! 

Bobbie  Evans,  you're  commander 
Of  a  fleet  that's  hard  to  beat, 

Your  flag-ship  sails  straight  through  our 

hearts, 
Your  victory  is  complete! 


it 


T.  R. 

Tell  the  news  the  good  world  'round, 
Teddy  Roosevelt's  homeward  bound ! 

Heart  within  his  hand  he  brings, 
Warm  for  commons  as  for  kings. 

Wearing  neither  badge  nor  sign 
Of  his  rank  or  creed  or  line; 

Just  a  wise  and  honest  man, 
Built  on  Freedom's  finished  plan. 

Loving  toil  and  loving  strife, 
On  the  San  Juan  hills  of  life; 

Blazing  trails  through  jungles'  might 
To  the  broad  veldt's  air  and   light; 

Purpose  high,  and  aim  as  true 
As  the  Afric  lion  knew; 

Dealing  fair  and  square  and  right  -- 
Just  a  great  soul,  in  its  might 

Helping  on  the  nobler  plan 
Of  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
12 


THE    CHAUFFEUR 
No  longer  on  the  "Field  of  Mars" 

Alone,  are  heroes  bred; 
No  longer  'neath  the  heel  of  war 

Alone,  the  turf  is  red,  — 

For  chauffeur  hosts  are  charging  down,— 
The  wayside  flowers  are  red  - 

The  wage  of  battle  fills  the  land: 
The  dying  and  the  dead. 

San  Gabriel's  horn  the  echoes  wakes, 
On  highways  near  and  far 

Stand  wide !  a  conquering  hero  comes 
Triumphant  in  his  car! 

No  space  on  earth  for  careless  feet, 
Where  sleuth-like  autos  roam; 

To  cross  their  path  means  quick  dispatch 
To  your  eternal  home. 


,3 


THE  FLAG  ON  THE  COURT-HOUSE 
It  dips  its  colors  to  the  dawn, 

It  hails  all  winds  that  blow, 
And  ruddier  in  the  western  light 

Its  bars  of  valor  glow. 

The  patriot's  lifted  gaze  discerns 
The  blue,  the  red,  the  white, 

But  shot  through  field  and  stars  and  bars 
With  Freedom's  golden  light. 

Re-visioned,  it  is  Valley  Forge, 
'Tis  Yorktown,  Brandywine, 

'Tis  Washington,  'tis  Lafayette, 
*Tis  patriots'  marching  line. 

'Tis  Freedom  lifted  to  the  skies, 
Pre-visioned  Patriots  saw, 

'Tis  Freedom,  Liberty  -  restrained 
By  halyards  of  the  Law. 


14 


MR.  SUNSHINE 

Mr.  Sunshine!  Mr.  Sunshine!! 

Please  to  tumble  out  of  bed, 
Bundle  up  your  cloudy  bed-clothes, 

Pitch  them  at  the  mountain's  head. 

O  you  dear  old  rosy  Sunshine ! 

Come  to  breakfast,  come  to  s/oy, 
Life  is  drear  when  you're  not  with  us ! 

From  your  sweet-heart, 

Miss   L.  A. 


SILVER  BELLS 
All  night  the  snow  fell  thick  and  fast, 
The  skies  their  gentle  burden  cast 

On  boughs  and   roofs  and  home-walled 

streets, 
Where  traffic  toils  and  pleasure  fleets; 

Then  o'er  the  carded  whiteness  threw 
A  sheen  more  rare  than  art  e'er  knew, 

When  Dawn  from  cloister,  fair  and  young, 
The  gates  of  Darkness  backward  flung, 

The  world  in  dazzling  beauty  spread, 
And  Day  went  forth  with  muffled  tread; 

Then,  sweeter  far  than  language  tells, 
Rang  out  the  chime  of  silver  bells. 

What  bells  within  my  heart  keep  time 
When  sweet  strung-bells  of  silver  chime  ? 

Some  morn,  far  off,  my  heart  will  know 
Why  silver  chimes  such  joy  bestow. 

In  far-off  skies  where  rapture  dwells 
I'll  hear  once  more  those  silver  bells. 

16 


DRIFT-WOOD 
[Dedicated  to  L  S.] 

The  light  boat,  like  a  cygnet,  dipped 
To  blue  Mendota's  wave, 

And  youthful  vikings  sought  the  coves 
Mendota's  waters  lave,  — 

For  wind  and  wave,  free-booters  wild, 
Had  gathered  drift-wood  store, 

And  into  coves  and  inlets  deep 
Their  garnered  treasure  bore. 

Not  fairer,  Ellen  of  the  Isle 

Than  she,  whose  light  oar  plied 

In  time  to  kinsman's  lengthened  stroke, 
O'er  waters  deep  and  wide. 

They  gathered  faggots,  lichened  o'er 
With  woodland  memories  dear, 

And  homeward  bore,  with  toiling  oar, 
For  wide  hearth's  evening  cheer. 

frosts  and  shadows  closer  crept, 
In  crackling  driftwood  blaze 

17 


To  light  and  life  once  more  came  forth 
The  scenes  of  by-gone  days. 

From  Black  Hawk  Point  the  deer,  pursued, 

In  beauty  cleft  the  wave, 
And  darkling  waters  joyous  leapt, 

The  antlered  life  to  save. 

The  muskrat  builded  strong  and  well 

His  castle,  moated  deep; 
And  safely  slept,  a  baron  bold, 

Within  his  donjon  keep. 

With  lore  of  wood,  the  birch  canoe 
Was  fashioned  strong  and  light; 

With  Indian  craft,  the  arrow-heads 
Outsped  the  wild  bird's  flight. 

The  springtime  came  with  glorious  life, 
And  call  like  wood-dove  loud 

A  wild  heart  heard,  and  dusky  cheek 
Outshone  the  sunset  cloud. 

The  Indian  summers  came  and  went, 
The  harvest  moons  grew  bold, 

18 


The  giant  forests  cast  their  shields 
And  dared  the  winter's  cold; 

The  Seasons  brought  their  full-armed  gifts 
From  forest,  field  and  waves; 

And  wild  and  sweet,  the  life  that  beat 
Around  these  Indian  graves. 


The  drift-wood  smoldered,  whitened,  fell; 

The  Night  Wind  downward  crept, 
And  from  the  hearth,  with  gentle  hand, 

The  furrowed  ashes  swept. 

Then  Helen's  dreaming  heart  beheld 
A  scene  most  dear  —  the  last  — 

Like  smoke  of  Peace-Pipe  drifted  wide  — 
The  Spirit  of  the  Past. 


19 


BLUE  DRAGON-OCEAN 

With  breathings  deep  and  bellowings  on 

the  shore, 

Blue  Dragon-Ocean  clutches  at  the  land, 
And  seeks  to  drag  to  protoplasmic  night 
All  patient  Time  has  wrought,  or  destined 

being  planned. 

Chained  by  a  law,  eternal  and  serene, 

It  strains  its  fettered  limbs  when  full  moon 

bides, 
The  strong  will  breaks  on  headlands  bleak 

and  bold, 
Then  foiled  and  beaten,   raging,    backward 

glides. 

Its  dazzling    helmet    rests    where    ice-floes 

start, 
Where  Arctic  monsters  range,  and  penguin 

calls, 
Where  quivering  Boreal-lights  wierd  vigils 

keep 

20 


And  deck  in  fearful  splendor  vast  celestial 
walls. 

To  far  Antarctic  bourne  it  sinuous  wends, 
Where  petrel  screams,  whose  soul  is  tem 
pest-tossed, 
Lest  'mid  the  waste  of  Polar    nights  and 

snows, 
Its  all  of  light  and  life,  its  one  dear  mate   is 

lost. 

Its  scales  are  blinding  in  the  noon-day  sun, 

At  morn  and  eve  the  steel-blue  armor 
gleams; 

From  it,  when  silvered  by  the  moonlight 
pale 

And  gemmed  with  countless  stars,  un 
earthly  beauty  streams. 

Lashed  by  sirrocco's  breath,  or  fell  simoom 
Its  heavy  undulous  bulk  resents  the  blow, 
And    mountainous     heavings     show     the 

Dragon's  blood 
In  warmer   currents  through   arterial  gulf- 

21 


streams  flow. 

When  Trade-winds     wild     o'er     trackless 

highways  fleet, 
And  ships  go  down  to  night   and    rayless 

day, 
No  more  the  Dragon    heeds    the    loss    and 

wreck, 

Than  were  it  gliding  seal,  or  dolphin  at  his 
play. 

Anon  the  angered  heavens  reach  down  to 

smite, 
And  sabers  flash,   and  thunderous  blows 

resound, 

Far  off  the  tumult  rolls,    the  armor's   clang 
Ensanguined  heavens   proclaim  how  wide 

the  Dragon's  wound. 

When  every  grain  of  sand  on   every   shore 
In    glass  of    Time   its    heavenly    message 
brings, 

22 


The  Dragon-Ocean,    free,  unchained,  shall 

soar, 
Transmuted  up  to  Heaven,  on  wide-spread 

misty  wings. 


23 


TEAL 

Swift  wings,  and  spirits  free,  that  love 
Through  ether  fields  to  roam, 

And    nestling    close    when     night     conies 

down 
Make  sedgy  pools  thy  home  — 

Take  heed !  The  hunter  marks  thy  flight, 
Knows  where  thy  hearth-fires  glow, 

His  lead  may  pierce  thy  gentle  heart, 
Forgive!    he  loves  thee  so! 


24 


THE    LINNETS 

Chilling  winds  of  March  were  sweeping 
O'er  the  misty  sea  and  land; 

Lost  the  sky-ways  of  the  linnet, 

Lost  the  sea-gull's  Lovers'  Strand. 

'Neath  my  window  in  the  shadows 

Where  the  hedge  and  palings  meet, 

Sconced  in  jeweled  cypress  leafage, 
Lissome  voices  wafted  sweet. 

Little  wings  had  found  a  roof-tree,  - 

Sheltered  safe  from  storm  and  night, 

Wistful  hearts  could  wait  in  patience 
For  tomorrow's  warmth  and  light. 


25 


A    DAY    IN    JUNE 

Steel-clad  the  Dawn,  -  a  mail-ed  knight 
For  tourney,  joust,  or  valor  bound; 

High  heart  and  warm,  our  Launcelot, 
"Best-loved  of  all  our  table-round." 

High  Noon,  and  chaliced  Eshcol  wine 

Is    poured    o'er  mountain,    wold  and 
mere, 

Entrancing  airs  o'erwhelm  and  bless, 

Day  dies -our  "matchless  Guinevere." 


26 


LESSONS 

I  come,  O  ways  of  spring,  to  greet 
The  tulip,  crocus,  asphodel, 

To  bind  my  soul  with  loving  touch 

To  glories  which  their  beauties  tell. 


0  Winds  of  night,  your  unbound  mantles 

brush 
My  spirit,  toiling  upward  through  the  dark; 

1  know  your  anguish  and  your  deep  unrest, 
Your  earth-life  longing  for  the  Perfect  Day. 


O  little  brook,  in  lessons  deep  and  wide 
Your  swift  and  yielding  ways  my  soul  in 
struct  : 

Never  in  stagnant  pools  your  spirit  bides, 
But  forths  to  greater  being,  greater  bliss. 


27 


Beloved  Hills,  you  too  have  felt 

The  cosmic  fires,  fierce  and  pent; 

But  now  for  you  the  lifted  dawn, 

For  you  is  lengthened  glory  sent. 


O  Autumn  spirit,  now  the  meaning  plain 
Of  husbandry  of  sunshine,  breeze  and  rain 
In    treasure-seeking    roots,     and     upward- 
gleaming  grain. 


28 


PASSING 

The  temple  was  deserted.  The  High 
Altar  of  the  Heart  was  fallen !  The  case 
ments  whence  the  soul  looked  forth  to 
bind  or  loose,  to  bless  or  ban,  were  closed 
and  barred. 

The  erstwhile  ministrant  with  swift 
and  noiseless  footsteps  had  departed,  leav 
ing  no  tidings  —  whence  the  command, 
whither  the  journeying,  when  the  hoped 
return. 

Sometime  votary,  blinded  and  stunn 
ed,  groping  like  Nydia  with  extended 
hand,  fain  would  detain  by  force  or  plead 
ings  the  departing  soul. 

The  yielding  wall  let  in  the  cool,  em 
bracing,  silent  air. 

Silent  all  answering  things  when 
Light  and  Life  and  Love  wreathed  arms: 
the  sunlit  hills,  enfolding  vales,  the  wel 
coming  uplands  flung  with  cloth-of-gold, 

29 


the  living  rocks  climbing  to  heaven,  close 
breath  of  pine,wide-spread  or  folded  wing, 
swift  messenger  from  flower  to  flower,  the 
censer-swinging  breeze,  -  all  dumb,  apart, 
as  if  the  soul  of  all  things  too  had  fled. 


Death  is  common?  Ay,  plenteous  as 
the  stars;  but  in  the  Passing,  to  the  riven 
soul,  a  tidal  wave  engulfs  the  world,  and 
leaves  it  tenantless. 


30 


MY      RELIGION 

O  Soul  that  bears  with  seeming  loss, 
For  kindred  souls  the  heavy  cross,- 

Like  one  who  gathered  to  his  heart 

The  spears  which  made  the  life-blood  start, 

That  rubies  from  his  affluent  veins 
Might  ransome  Liberty  in  chains  - 

Hast  thou  in  time  the  meaning  guessed, 
Of  bruis-ed  feet  and  wounded  breast? 

Tell  o'er  the  scheme  of  life,  and  show 
Why  hearts  must  bleed,    why    tears    must 
flow. 

"  The  seed  will  be  a  seed,  till  sun 

And  soil  and  rain  their  work  have  done ; 

n  In  branch  and  leaf  and  flower  expressed 
Is  meaning  in  the  seed  confessed. 

"Take  heed,  for  in  thy  being  dwells 
The  need  which  every  change  compels. 


31 


"Perhaps  for  thee,  the  earthquake  shock, 
The  lightning-bolt,  the  hidden  rock. 

"  Whate*er  the  cost,  thyself  must  know 
The  lesson  taught  in  joy  and  woe. 

"Perfected  being,  is  the  quest  — 

The  goal  -  of  every  earth-bound  guest. n 


32 


LOVE 

Love  wrought,  and  Toil  forgot  the  load, 
Forgot  the  heavy  stinging  goad. 

Love  wrought,  and  Sorrow  joyous  sped, 
Where  rocks  had  torn  and  thorns  had  bled. 

Love  wrought,    and  back  from  wrong  and 

blame 
With  heart  of  gold  the  wandering  came. 


33 


^ercc^r- - 

M^-W. 


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